Lycopene Supplement

All about the benefits of a lycopene supplement….

Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family and is the pigment that gives tomatoes their brilliant red color.

Carotenoids are natural fat-soluble pigments found in red, yellow, green, and orange fruits and vegetables. A class of phytochemicals, carotenoids is a family of potent antioxidants that include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin.

In addition to tomatoes and tomato-based products, lycopene is also found in watermelon, papaya, pink grapefruit and pink guava. However, tomatoes and tomato based foods such as ketchup, pizza sauce, tomato juice and tomato paste, are the richest source of lycopene. Moreover, cooked or processed tomatoes are a better source of lycopene than fresh tomatoes or tomato juice.

In general, it is believed that the carotenoids offer protection against a variety of cancers and cardiovascular disease.

How Can A Lycopene Supplement Benefit You?

The Benefits of Lycopene

Specifically, lycopene is a potent antioxidant that appears to also harbor anti-cancer properties. In fact, it is considered one of the more potent antioxidants in the carotenoid family, including even beta-carotene.

So, what are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are compounds that help protect the body from cellular damage caused by free radicals. The body needs antioxidants because with every breath you take you generate free radicals, which are highly reactive substances that can attack and damage cells. As such, many experts believe that free radicals are major factors leading to more than sixty different health problems including aging, cancer, and atherosclerosis.

Now, let's take a look at more specific benefits of lycopene. This nutrient is used for the protection against certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the prostate, lung, and stomach.

In addition, it is thought to offer the body protection against cardiovascular disease. Researchers have found a statistically significant association between high dietary lycopene and approximately a 50% reduction in the risk of heart disease.

Other possible benefits of lycopene dietary sources and/or lycopene supplements include that it may play a role in preventing age-related macular degeneration and atherosclerosis. It may also be helpful for exercise-induced asthma.

We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre believe that there are many undiscovered health benefits of lycopene.

Lycopene Daily Recommendation and Precautions

The daily dosage recommended by some experts has been 6-10 mgs with no known possible side effects. However, as with all supplements, you should always speak with your physician before starting supplementation.

Tips on Choosing a Lycopene Supplement

To reap the full benefits of a lycopene supplement, select a product produced at pharmaceutical GMP facilities. Dietary supplements are not strictly regulated in the U.S. and, as such, manufacturers do not have to guarantee the safety, effectiveness, or even the true content of their products.

Although supplements should be labeled properly, many aren't, so what's stated on the label may not be in the container. The potency or purity may be inconsistent or misrepresented. Some products tested also contained very harmful contaminates! In fact, consumers often only have a 1 in 5 chance of buying a product that actually contains the amount of ingredients stated on the label or one that is not contaminated.

This is why it's crucial that you only purchase your supplements from pharmaceutical GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant facilities. These facilities follow the exact same rigorous standards that pharmaceutical prescription medications must adhere to - thus - it ensures stringent requirements.

Featured Lycopene Supplement

A Comprehensive Product

One company that meets the above requirement -- and more -- is Xtend-Life from New Zealand. Their flagship formula called Total Balance contains lycopene along with a broad spectrum of over 70 specialized nutrients that the body needs for optimal 'whole' body health, including vitamins, minerals, potent antioxidants, specialty nutrients, herbal extracts, enzymes, and amino acids.

In addition, Total Balance is formulated by a highly credentialed scientific team that can blend these ingredients perfectly to ensure maximum benefits, but as importantly that do not interact adversely. Plus, Total Balance is enteric coated to protect all of these ingredients against stomach acids and to ensure maximum bio-availability.

The company also uses only standardized herbal extracts, the purest herbal extracts with the highest quality and therapeutic benefits, and they adhere to strict pharmaceutical GMP compliance, which is the toughest in the industry.

We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre have been taking Total Balance for several years now and can personally attest to its excellent results such as an increase in energy levels, mental clarity, and an increase feeling of well-being.